The Jesus Gospel
Sharing the teachings of Jesus that the world would like to ignore.
It is also our belief that a Christian lifestyle of non-violence cannot be dictated or “forced” upon any believer. It should be the result of a heart, mind and soul - dedicated to and transformed by complete surrender to our Lord Jesus Christ.
We realize many will find the Biblical teachings of non-violence upsetting. We hope and pray that the individual reader will take the scripture verses presented on this site to the Lord in sincere prayer, with an open heart, seeking guidance from the Holy Spirit for understanding of the intended meaning and the practical application in the individual believer’s life.
David first gave a printed version of his sermon "Why the World Hates Jesus of Nazareth" at the First Baptist Church of Mabank. He and his friends were soon asked to leave the church. David later preached the same sermon at his parent's church, the Main Street Baptist Church. The reception was better and David was actually asked back. The recording below came from the sermon delivered at his parent’s church.
David delivered this powerful sermon on September 3, 2006 at the Main Street Baptist Church in Grand Saline, Texas.Even the pagans recognized that Christians would no longer carry the sword. Celsus was a respected pagan scholar. In 173 AD he criticized Christians for their refusal to defend the Empire. “If all men were to do as you there would be nothing to prevent the Emperor from being left in utter solitude, and with the desertion of his forces, the Empire would fall into the hands of the most lawless barbarians.”
Origen gave the Christian response:
“Christians have been taught not to defend themselves against their enemies; and because they have kept the laws that command gentleness and love of man, they have received from God that which they would not have achieved if they were permitted to make war, though they might have been quite able to do so.”
But he also explained that the peaceful Christian did more good for the Emperor than his armies did. “The more devout the individual, the more effective he is in helping the Emperor, more so than the soldiers who go into the lines and kill all the enemy troops they can … The greatest warfare, in other words, is not with human enemies but with those spiritual forces which make men into enemies.”
~~~~~~~~~
Jesus taught us to "Kill and hate our enemies."
Well maybe not to hate but surely at times to kill. Didn't He? It seems this is what I have been taught.
But what did Jesus say?
~~~~~~~~~~~
The Christian's Armor.
Are you Prepared for the Battle?
"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak." Ephesians 6: 11-20
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Following is a recent letter sent to a friend. I have removed her name, though I doubt she would mind if I used it, and done some minor editing. Being a pacifist Christian isn't always easy as this letter will attest.
Dear Friend,
I have been thinking about you and your peace journey.
I am impressed with where you are at and how you have arrived there.
I want to share a couple of things and get your reflections on them.
I admire your thoughts on the “empire” and what the church does to protect it in apparent opposition to Jesus’ teachings. My question is: Isn’t our family circle just a smaller “empire” that we are mostly willing to do the same thing for? Is there any difference for the Christian in claiming a right to strike the attacker of a family member and the Christian who claims a just war defense?
As a pacifist I have often been asked the "what if" questions. What would I do if … Only one really bothered me and your comments caused me to reflect back on it. Here is that “what if" scenario rephrased for you. What would you do if you observed your daughter walking on some train tracks along a river. She is listening to her IPOD and cannot hear the passenger train approaching from behind. You stand a few hundred yards away by a switch, out of her vision and sound. You are faced with a dilemma: You can pull the switch and send the train at a high speed into the river at the loss of many lives. Or you can do nothing watch the train hit your daughter. What would the human you do? What would the Christian you do? Any differences?
That scenario really bothered me. I knew what the human me would do and that it wasn’t what the Christian me would do.
You seem to be tender spirited person. You realize that many in your congregation are “blinded” by their zeal. You once told me you would use violence to protect your family. But if you are willing to use violence to defend your home (family) can you fault them for being willing to do the same for their homeland?
Should the slogan for the majority of Christians be: “Lord we trust you in all things but if you fail us then we trust in the brute force of our hands and weaponry”? Or should the slogan simply be: “Lord in all things we trust you , including the lives of our family“?
I believed I shared with you my thoughts on the crazed gunman who attacked the Amish school children last October. I was impressed with the Amish community for reaching out in love to the attacker’s family. I was more impressed with the bravery and courage that emerged from some of the little girls shot. According to reports 13-year-old Marion Fisher asked to be shot first, apparently hoping her death might save the others. Her 11-year old sister, Barbie, volunteered to be shot second. Marian died. Barbie, shot three rimes, survived.
But also what is impressing is the type of parenting that must have taken place to have these little saints so prepared to be so courageous at such a horrible time. Obviously someone had taught these children an incredible example to follow.
This short note has again turned into a long one. I won’t even mention the second issue , for now, that I had for you.
May God continue to lead and bless you,
John
This really isn't an issue about war or peace. It is an issue about obedience. If God calls us to war we should be ready to go. But if he calls us to peace, to turn the other cheek, to go the extra mile or to even love our enemies in real and tangible ways then we as believers must be willing to follow.
Jesus said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it." (Luke 9:23-24)
He never said the cross would be without splinters.
